Land use and development planning that only accounts for the value of built capital often negatively impacts communities: small businesses and jobs can be lost, environmental health is impacted, and community structure may be lost. SERVES (Simple and Effective Resource for Valuing Ecosystem Services), can be used by individuals and communities to understand and leverage the economic value of green infrastructure and natural systems. This information provides powerful arguments for shifting investment towards sustainability.
The Economics of Change: Catalyzing the Investment Shift Toward a Restorative Built Environment provides effective alternatives to the current financial model and policy framework that drive investment decisions in real estate.
A group for discussing how to address ecosystem services in local land use and infrastructure plans.
The purpose of this group is to investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with conserving ecosystem services within the context of Oregon's land use and infrastructure planning. Initially, information will be collected and compiled on this site, based on interviews with planners, local officials, and other experts. Listening sessions will be held in several rural communities, to enhance understanding of unique circumstances and potential opportunities.
The Ecosystem Services Review for Impact Assessment (ESR for IA) is a structured methodology to help environmental and social practitioners address ecosystem services throughout the impact assessment process. More specifically, the ESR for IA provides practitioners with:
The Ecosystem Services Review for Impact Assessment (ESR for IA) is a structured methodology to help environmental and social practitioners address ecosystem services throughout the impact assessment process. More specifically, the ESR for IA provides practitioners with:
This document presents an ecological economic characterization of the Puyallup River Watershed, located in Washington State, USA. The primary goal of such a characterization is to understand nature and the human economy as a single system. Identifying and valuing nature’s contribution to the economy enables better decisions that improve local and regional quality of life. The study introduces the watershed, geography and other relevant features.
